Quaker Council For European Affairs - Achievements

Achievements

It is notoriously difficult to identify clearly the achievements brought about by political advocacy. It is rare, indeed, when a clear link between a piece of advocacy work and a change in policy can be identified. Below are a few of the policy changes which have occurred where QCEA has made an appreciable contribution. This is not to say that others haven’t contributed to this too. The list below is also limited to those achievements where it is possible to identify concrete outcomes in terms of texts adopted, structures or funding mechanism established or action taken by institutions. Much of QCEA's work affects decision-making at a less visible level and is aimed at changing hearts and minds in the institutions over the long term.

• In 2007, QCEA published a groundbreaking report on the situation of women in prison in the member states of the Council of Europe; in 2009, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a Resolution (Resolution 1663), which took on board the majority of our recommendations.

• In 2008, the European Parliament adopted an own initiative report on the situation of women in prison and the impact of the imprisonment of parents on social and family life which also took on board a large number of our recommendations.

• QCEA was a founder member of the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office which now has 31 member organisations.

• As part of this network, QCEA has contributed to a number of initiatives and work programmes and has led on several of them. As a result:

- The Instrument for Stability provides funding for peacebuilding and conflict prevention and in particular for dialogue on these between the Institutions and civil society

- There has been a process of engagement on matters of policy and on specific conflicts between civil society organizations and the European crisis management structures

- Conflict prevention and peacebuilding have been given a key place in the structures of the European External Action Service

- The Social and Environmental Standards of the European Investment Bank include reference to conflict sensitivity.

• "The Greek Government had to reply to the Council of Europe about the way it treats those doing alternative service. Why?" Because QCEA has participatory status at the Council of Europe and had the right to bring collective complaints under the Council of Europe's Social Charter. QCEA used this right to bring a successful complaint against Greece.

• "There is an anti-discrimination clause in the Amsterdam Treaty. Why?" Because QCEA, along with other non-governmental organisations in Brussels, campaigned for it.

• "The Council of Europe asked the governments of all its member states what provision they made for conscientious objection. Why?" Because QCEA raised the matter in September 1996 and the Committee of Ministers acted on QCEA's initiative. A brochure of good practice in handling conscientious objection was prepared, and distributed to all the member states in 2002.